Primary Sources

Primary and Secondary Sources

Primary and Secondary Sources in the same subject area

Working in a laundry--Lewis Hine

Primary Sources--original sources of information

First-hand accounts, created by participants or witnesses of events
In their original form; raw data
Not explained or interpreted
Created during the time period being investigated
Primary sources

Secondary Sources--secondhand account containing some type of interpretation

A non-participant or a non-witness describing an event or person
Created after the time period being investigated
Compile, interpret, analyze, summarize,or critique primary sources
Secondary sources

Mary Ann Hamilton immigrated from Ireland, worked in a laundry, and lived in New York City in the 1920s. Her workplace might have looked like the picture above.

She may have lived in a Tenement in New York City
This might have been one of her ways of Doing Laundry

Primary Source Examples:

Photographs:

Mary Ann (Mollie) Hamilton

Journals and Diaries:

Journal of Mary Ann (Mollie) Hamilton

Letters:

Letter from MAH Frost to Elinor Critchlow

Vital Records:

Marriage record of Herbert Frost and Mary Ann Hamilton

Census Records:

1920 Census

Photograph:

Herbert, Mollie, Herbie Frost

Artifact:

Hat belonging to Mary Ann Hamilton Frost

Example of Secondary Source:

Short Biography of Mary Ann Hamilton Frost

Assessment

Primary Sources.pdf
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Primary Sources

Analyzing Primary Sources

Child Labor Photo Analysis